Career Mentors Program

Need help getting started in your career? Look no further!

The purpose of the mentorship program is to help those seeking the opportunity to get a leg-up in their career through shadowing and receiving training through a mentor in their field of choice. The mentor will help guide and teach you about their field of expertise through techniques, programs, ideas, pros, and cons, etc. With potential networking possibilities and skills gained this is a great opportunity for those wanting to learn more, struggling to find internships, or getting the training they need.

Below is a list of potential mentors to choose from, you can be local or remote but ultimately they decide. If there is someone you see that may be a fit, email ucinitiative@gmail.com the following:

1. Your name
2. Where you are located
3. The mentor you wish to have
4. What you are hoping to learn and gain, along with anything else you may wish to say.

We will then contact that mentor to find the best time to connect you both. No internship or job is promised. We will also keep in contact with you monthly to see how things are going, skills gained, internship/job offer, etc. until you are done with your mentor or an internship/job is offered.

Mentors


chief romero

Name: Steven Romero

Location: Ontario, Oregon

Field of Expertise: All areas of police work

Works For: Ontario Police Department

Position: Cheif of Police

Expertise Offered: Chief Romero offers knowledge on all areas of police work as well as the opportunity to be a potential reference. He offers guidance through the initial application and background process, different fields of police work from gang units to detective work, as well as how to quickly advance and be promoted.

Bio: Steven Romero was recently named the brand new Chief of Police of Ontario, Oregon. Romero started his career as a police officer in 1989 for the Los Angeles Police Department until 1993 when he then transferred to the Hawthorne Police Department, also in the heart of Los Angeles. Before being named the Chief of Police, Romero worked as a Lieutenant overseeing 90 police officers and 40 civilian employees, all while helping the community. Romero grew up doing a variety of activities, among those is his favorite sport wresting. Romero has competed for state titles and for over 15 years has been the head coach of the La Habra Cobras Wrestling team.


Kristin Zamani

Name: Kristin Zamani

Location: Las Vegas, Nevada

Field of Expertise: Public Relations and Marketing

Works For: Victory Belt Publishing

Position: Senior Publicist

Expertise Offered: Kristin offers extensive knowledge in social media, content creation, event management, public relations and publicizing, putting individuals in publications such as Women's World, MindBodyGreen, Livestrong, Organic Authority, Women's Health and more.

Bio: Kristin graduated from UNLV in 2017 with a degree in marketing but eventually found her passion for public relations. Starting as a Social Media Specialist for Health Binge, she gained knowledge of social media marketing and content creation, boosting their online precense. She eventually became a Web Design Consultant for Journee For Cures helping with website design and function. She currently works at Victory Belt Publishing as a Senior Publicist, helping manage multiple high influence authors, events, social media, and media opportunities.


Dylan McDowell

Name: Dylan McDowell

Location: Idaho Falls, Idaho

Field of Expertise: Coding and accounting/financing

Works For: Idaho National Laboratory

Position: Modeling & Simulation Engineer

Expertise Offered: Dylan offers knowledge of variety areas of coding such as HTML, CSS, Python as well as software development. He also offers knowledge in finances and economics. working for a nuclear plant and even helping the original development of the Unity Community Initiative website. He also has experience working at Goldman Sachs in private equity, risk management and analytics.

Bio: Dylan graduated from BYU-I in 2018 with a degree in economics and finances but but also found a passion for coding as well. He was the president of the Econ-Society at BYU-I, a junior analyst for the Research and Business Development Center, as well as a financial analyst for Goldman Sachs. Her currently works as a Modeling & Simulation Engineer at Idaho National Laboratory.


Esmeralda Howard

Name: Esmeralda Howard

Location: Las Vegas, Nevada

Field of Expertise: Psychology and Case Management

Works For: Foundation for an Independent Tomorrow

Position: Case and Social Media Manager

Expertise Offered: Esmeralda offers expertise in re-entry programs for those with criminals backgrounds, psychology research, social media managment, content creation, blog writing and creation along with SEO and gathering followers.

Bio: Esmeralda graduated from BYU-I in 2017 with a degree in psychology, doing multiple research studies and was even invited to present at the Rocky Mountain Psychological Association for her research. After graduating from college she found a job as a Case Manager for a non-profit that helps those with criminal backgrounds become reacquainted with society helping them find a job to self-sustain. She became their social media manager due to her writing skills and content creation and eventually their blog writier after finding success from her personal blog FieldofEmeralds.com with more than 1,000 views a month.


Mark Daniel

Name: Mark Daniel

Location: Kennesaw, Georgia

Field of Expertise: Graphic Design

Works for: ProCare Pest Services

Position: Creative Director

Expertise Offered: Mark offers expertise in design ranging from adobe illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, After Effects and more, along with website design and functionality. He also offers knowledge in event marketing and management.

Bio: Mark Daniel graduated from BYU-I in 2017 in graphic design. During his time there, he was the director of Center Stage where he managed performing artists such as The National Parks, Mat Kearney, Scotty McCreery and more along with social media management, graphics, and marketing. He was a graphic designer for the Research and Business Development Center and Soapbox Agency. He created his own board game called Ruin Treasure. He currently works as Creative Director for ProCare Pest Control.


Lucas Handy

Name: Lucas Handy

Location: Rexburg, Idaho

Field of Expertise: Public Relations

Works For: Madison Memorial Hospital

Position: Marketing & Business Development

Expertise Offered: As a PR professional for many businesses, Lucas offers skills such as SEO, digital marketing, videography, event management, social media and more. He focuses on developing businesses to be the best they can be and their overall image.

Bio: Lucas graduated from BYU Marriot School of Business and began his career working for cities such as Burley and Rupert developing his skills in government and helping individuals. He further developed his skills with SEO, HR, photography/videography, and digital marketing. He has taken photos for Google which have been viewed more than 1 million times and now works for the PR department for Madison Memorial Hospital in Rexburg, Idaho.